Banuelos effectively wild for RailRiders

For the second time in his career, Manny Banuelos is back at the top of the Minor League ladder, but his latest Triple-A outing probably won't vault him to the Bronx.

The Yankees' No. 8 prospect allowed one hit over three innings, but tied a career high with six walks. He and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre evaded damage from the free passes, though, as right-handers Chris Leroux and Nick Rumbelow combined with Banuelos to shut out Pawtucket, 2-0.

Banuelos is in his second stint with the RailRiders -- the first was ended by an elbow injury that led to Tommy John surgery in 2012. After missing all of 2013, Banuelos has climbed from Class A Advanced Tampa back to Triple-A this season -- he allowed an earned run in five innings in his International League season debut last week.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters last week the team was considering calling up Banuelos in September.

The left-hander wound his way through three innings, picking up three strikeouts and walking three. In the fourth, he walked the bases loaded on 15 pitches and was lifted for Leroux.

The right-hander induced a fielder's choice groundout to third, with Rob Segedin throwing home to force out Ryan Lavarnway. After that, Leroux struck out Blake Swihart and induced a fly ball to left field from Jackie Bradley Jr., to end the frame.

Bradley, playing his first contest with Pawtucket since being demoted from Boston, went 0-for-5 in the contest. He was sent down after hitting .216 with a .578 OPS in 112 big league games this season.

"This is the first time I've really had to go through a true struggle in my baseball career," he said before the game. "You have to keep persevering and keep playing. It's far from over. Just going to keep playing and enjoying myself."

Leroux shut down the PawSox through the end of the eighth, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five. It was the first appearance for the 30-year-old in Triple-A since being promoted last week to New York -- he was outrighted back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre over the weekend without making an appearance for the Yankees.

In 10 appearances (nine starts) with the RailRiders this year, Leroux has a 3.93 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings.

Rumbelow entered for the ninth seeking his first save opportunity in Triple-A. The right-hander delivered a 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeout of Bradley for the second out.

In six Triple-A appearances, Rumbelow has a 1.04 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 8 2/3 frames. The 2013 seventh-rounder began the year with Class A Charleston, posting five saves with a spotless 0.00 ERA in eight appearances.

In 40 appearances across four levels this year, he has a 1.93 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings.

The result gave the RailRiders a four-game sweep, marking the first time since June 2012 that Pawtucket was swept in a four-game series at home.